Trying to Belong

Chapter 15

Rey made her way up to Luke and his car, hugging herself with her arms. It was windy and her hair was blowing in her face. She'd woken up that morning ,asleep in the bath. She hadn't even been that drunk to her recollection and she wasn't experiencing no hangover symptoms which she was glad about but she did have to get dressed in a hurry and in doing so, she forgot to tie her hair back which was annoying since it was windy and blowing in her face constantly.

"Are you alright? You seem..." Luke began.

"Seem what?" Rey asked, furrowing her eyebrows.

"Tired."

"A bit tired yeah." Rey admitted. "But eager to start the day with some driving lessons!"

"Alright. Enthusiasm. That's what I like to see in my students."

Rey opened up the driver's door and got into the car. "It's a...nice car." Rey stated (a lie) as Luke got into the passenger seat and handed her the keys.

"It's Han's." Luke said and Rey drew him a questioning glance. "You're not driving my car until you've been on the road after three years of passing your driving test."

"Wow. Does he know you're using his car?" Rey asked.

"I'm sure he won't mind." Luke said, his voice with assumed confidence. "At least I don't think he would."

"What kind of car do you have anyway? Some piece of garbage and you're not able to admit it to me. You're my dad I have to love you no matter how embarrassing or uncultured you are."

"Rey if you aren't going to take this seriously I won't take you to the zoo during summer break. Bear in mind I have tests to mark!"

"My apologies. I'm listening intently."

"Well now you're in the car what do you do?" Luke asked his daughter.

"Look around and wish we were in a better one." Rey responded. Luke was about to be scolding but then nodded in agreement. Rey continued to answer his question. "Then you put your seatbelt on and say thank you to your father for taking time out of his obviously busy schedule to teach you the basics of driving."

Rey put on her seatbelt. "Thank you! By the way which Zoo are we going to?" Rey asked Luke.

"I haven't decided yet." Luke replied and Rey sighed. "Are you going to the amusement park tomorrow by the way?"

"Yes. Kylo is dropping Amethyst and I off on his way into town. He has a nice car by the way."

"Does he? Well you can ask him to teach you."

"What next?" Rey asked.

"Well you tell me."

"Well don't you put the key into the thing... the ignition and then it makes that vroom vroom. Vroom vroom! Noise."

"Okay now do that." Luke said and watched as Rey put the key into the ignition and turned it. "Now this is where you have to use your brain. It might be difficult for you."

Rey turned and looked Luke dead in the eye. If looks could kill her father would dead there and then and undertakers would be coming into the car to bury him.

"Only joking." Luke uttered, worried.

"This is where I put my hand on the gear stick, press the brake and put in drive." Rey explained to her dad.

"Yes and.... you looked this up didn't you?"

Rey smiled. "I did before I got tipsy."

"Tipsy? You're not a DUI case. Please. It's bad enough you almost went to prison for harboring a criminal!" Luke whined.

"No. It was last night. I found a bottle of wine with a bow on it a note that said congratulations on completing my exams. So I drank it to forget I took the exams."

"Rey." Luke uttered and turned the key in the ignition to the off side. "You don't just drink things that you don't know the origin of or who sent it. Did that not happen in Harry Potter?"

"Wait a minute you left groceries in my fridge and cupboards. how is that any different?"

"Well...Well it just is!" Luke replied.

"How?" Rey asked and lounged back, folding her arms. "Explain to me why it's different."

"Well because I'm your dad and I'm not going to intentionally poison you. Not yet anyway."

"But I didn't know that at the time."

"You thought it was from the school."

"I thought the wine was from the school."

"Why would the school give you wine?"

"Well I don't know it was just there!" Rey replied and sighed. "Can we get on with this?"

"Okay." sighed Luke. "Okay."

Rey sighed too. "Everything is a debate."

"Apparently so. Yes." Luke replied. "Reminds me of your mother. She had to debate everything too."

"Don't bring my mother into this. I have no experience in order to judge if you're exaggerating or not. Hey did you hear Amethyst is having twins?"

"Yes. Y'knowI was a twin. Leia's my twin sister."

"Were you surprised I wasn't a twin?"

"Relieved. One of you was difficult enough never mind two."

"Excuse me?" Rey asked.

"Well you were quite a handful. I won't lie to you." Luke responded. "You were demanding and bossy and getting up to things you shouldn't be. You cried a lot. You threw a glass at Ben once. You were only two when you did that. Which was probably why you got away with. I have to say your violent tendencies today only give me flashbacks to the more scarier times."

Rey blinked. "I do apologise that I was such a handful of a child. Although I wasn't asked to be born."

"No. It was something that just sort of happened."

"Things don't just happen. Especially children." Rey replied. "Did my mum love me?"

"Of course she did." Luke replied.

"I didn't get in the way of a career or..."

"No. I was your stay at home dad." Luke replied. "Hence why was I glad we didn't have twins. I couldn't cope with you nevermind if you had a brother or sister."

Rey looked out the window.

"Don't get me wrong! I loved spending time with you." Luke said, realising he might have hurt his daughter's feelings. She started laughing suddenly.

"That's so funny. I threw a glass at Kylo. Even then I hated him." Rey admitted. "Well I don't hate him. He's a good cousin. He bought me pencils for Christmas. To be fair I was needing pencils you know?"

"Oh Rey I didn't even get you anything."

"I didn't get you anything either but it's okay. There's this Christmas. We can exchange gifts this year. It'll be nice."

He smiled. "Start the engine again." Luke said. "If you can make it to the gas station in town by following my instructions without getting stubborn or freaking out on me... I'll buy you a candy bar."

"Candy. Now that's a good motivator." Rey said and started the engine and began to listen to Luke's instruction once more.